# Disney Research

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**Disney Research** is a network of research labs supporting [The Walt Disney Company](/source/The_Walt_Disney_Company). Its purpose is to pursue scientific and technological innovation to advance the company's broad media and entertainment efforts.

It has facilities in Los Angeles, Zurich and Edinburgh. Research topics include [computer graphics](/source/Computer_graphics), [video processing](/source/Video_processing), [computer vision](/source/Computer_vision), [robotics](/source/Robotics),[1] [radio](/source/Radio) and [antennas](/source/Antenna_(radio)), [wireless communications](/source/Wireless), [human-computer interaction](/source/Human-computer_interaction), [displays](/source/Display_device), [data mining](/source/Data_mining), [machine learning](/source/Machine_learning), and [behavioral sciences](/source/Behavioral_sciences). The lab in [Cambridge, Massachusetts](/source/Cambridge,_Massachusetts) was closed in January 2016.[2]

Disney Research is managed by an internal Disney Research Council co-chaired by Disney-[Pixar](/source/Pixar)'s [Ed Catmull](/source/Ed_Catmull) and including the directors of the individual labs.

## Notable works

Below are some notable works from Disney Research:

- [BB-8](/source/BB-8) was a physical prop created by special effects artist [Neal Scanlan](/source/Neal_Scanlan)[3]
- The HoloTile Floor was created by Disney Imagineer [Lanny Smoot](/source/Lanny_Smoot) as a mechanical surface that allows a person to simulate walking while remaining stationary, akin to an omnidirectional treadmill, to create the illusion of walking[4][5]

## See also

- [Walt Disney Imagineering](/source/Walt_Disney_Imagineering)

## References

1. Tully, Jessica (May 28, 2013). ["Disney Research Pittsburgh scientists are aiming for human-like robots"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130806011435/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/technology/disney-research-pittsburgh-scientists-are-aiming-for-human-like-robots-689388/). Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Archived from [the original](http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/technology/disney-research-pittsburgh-scientists-are-aiming-for-human-like-robots-689388/) on August 6, 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2018.

1. ["Disney is closing its research lab in Cambridge"](https://www.boston.com/news/cambridge/2016/02/11/disney-is-closing-its-research-lab-in-cambridge/). *[Boston Globe](/source/Boston_Globe)*. February 11, 2016.

1. Hackett, Robert (May 26, 2015). ["Disney just developed the most adorable walking robot"](http://fortune.com/2015/05/26/disney-walking-robot/). *[Fortune](/source/Fortune_(magazine))*. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

1. ["A Disney Imagineer explains how they made the HoloTile floor, a magical walkway that moves in any direction"](https://www.fastcompany.com/91019277/a-disney-imagineer-explains-how-they-made-the-holotile-floor-a-magical-walkway-that-moves-in-any-direction). *Fast Company*. 2024-01-31. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240204123018/https://www.fastcompany.com/91019277/a-disney-imagineer-explains-how-they-made-the-holotile-floor-a-magical-walkway-that-moves-in-any-direction) 2024-02-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

1. Bankhurst, Adam (2024-01-23). ["Disney Unveils the HoloTile Floor, Inching Us Closer to a Real-Life Holodeck"](https://www.ign.com/articles/disney-unveils-the-holotile-floor-inching-us-closer-to-a-real-life-holodeck). *IGN*. Retrieved 2025-11-05.

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